The Taliban militants have taken control of a key area in northern Afghanistan after heavy clashes that claimed the lives of at least seven security forces.

A spokesman for the provincial governor, said the militant group launched a series of coordinated attacks in the northern Sari Pul Province on Saturday, seizing control of the strategic Mirzawalang area in Sayad district after over two days of battles.

The source said local security forces had called in but not gotten government reinforcements.

“We requested reinforcement from the central government, unfortunately couldn’t get any support, that is why the forces lost control of Mirzawalang,” the source added.

The spokesman said that ten Taliban militants, including two group leaders, had been killed and four Afghan security officers wounded in the two days of gun battles in the northern province.

There are unconfirmed reports that more than a dozen civilians and a local policeman have been killed by the militants following the takeover of the area, according to Amani.

The Taliban have reportedly recently stepped up their attacks in Afghanistan, mostly in the south of the country.

Previously, the Taliban had raided and seized Kohistan district in the northern Faryab Province after storming the district government’s headquarters. The militants also captured the Taywara district in western Ghor Province.

In late July, the militants overran the district of Jani Khel in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Paktia, gaining a straight third victory in just four days.